Scientists Meet to Improve Yam Production in Africa

Scientists yesterday began this year’s conference on the progress of research efforts towards the improvement of the genetic potential and productivity of two most cultivated yam species in Africa at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State.

The meeting will provide a platform for stakeholders to review current standing of the project in relation to project goals.

In 2015, ‘AfricaYam’ was initiated with the mandate to use latest technologies in the science of plant breeding to develop high yielding varieties of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) and water yam (D. alata) that will show great promise in resisting infestation by nematodes, viruses, and anthracnose known to greatly limit productivity in West Africa’s most preferred staple crop.

Every year, Sub-Saharan Africa produces no less than 54 million tons of yams from about 4.6 million hectares of land. But this output is only 40 percent compared with cassava production on the continent.

As a result, farmers are unable to cope with the demand for the crop which is further constrained by low yield and losses in storage.

Plant Breeder/Geneticist and the AfricaYam project leader, Dr. Patrick Adebola, noted that the important constraint limiting the productivity of yam is the cost of production.

“In Africa, one very important constraint limiting productivity for most smallholder farmers apart from climate change, diseases and pests infestation is production cost.

“The AfricaYam project recognises this challenge and is developing yam varieties that will make yam production more profitable for farmers. The project is also exploring environmental friendly technologies to breed quality yam varieties that will meet the demands of farmers in the region,” Adebola further said.

He revealed that the project is also seeking to enhance active yam breeding programmes in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Benin—the countries in West Africa, producing over 95 percent of Africa’s yam.

“It will employ faster and more precise genomic tools to improve the efficiency of yam breeding programmes as well as improve yam genotypes adapted to production systems and suited to market preferences.

AfricaYam is led by IITA in partnership with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Ebonyi State University (EBSU); Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Savanna Agricultural Research Institute; le Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA) and l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Dassa Centre, Benin.

The project also receives support from the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), France; the Iwate Biotechnology Research Center (IBRC), Japan; the James Hutton Institute (JHI), UK; Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), Japan; and the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research (BTI), Cornell University, United States.